West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-08-19

semi-wild goats that roam on the
precipitous side ofthe mountain with
the tenacity of footing peculiar to
these animals. Frequently an old
buck-the patriarch of the flock
will take his stand on a high pima
Gle and survey his realm with the
placid dignity of ruler conscious
of undisputed sway, and it may be
that he regards with contempt the
pygmied figures below whose silly
curiosity he has excited. Although
the goat never slips, it sometimes
happens that boulder will become
detached by his tread, and we once
saw perfect game of leap-frog be-
tween an old Billy and treacherous
rock which had given way under
him. Down the mountain they
rolled, goat and boulder alternately
on top, while the piteous bleating of
the one could not be drowned in the
thunders of the other. The rock
alone suffered damage, for it was
broken into fragments at the bottom,
while the goat scooted back up the
mountain perhaps little faster than
he ad descended. The flock is the
offspring of a few tame goats that,
some years ago, were neglected by
their owner and permitted to wander
unrestrained on the mountain. This
species of animal is very destructive
to young trees and ruinous to the
grapevine, and, in consequence, the
ancients used to sacrifice goat to
Bacchus, the God of Wine. We
mention this fact us hint to the
Prohibitionists, who may some day
be the ruling power and may want
a device for their great seal, and we
suggest for this purpose the Goat
the great enemy Of Bacchus and,
consequently, friend to temper
ance. Besides, as this animal is
particularly sure footed, it would be
an excellent allegory to represent
the steady, assured step of the sober
man..
A few days ago we had the honor
of an introduction to and shake
hands with royalty in the person of
Louis Clinton, student at Storer
College, who claims, lis believed
to be, King of an extensive and in
definitely bounded territory, border
ing on the great Sahara. We give
the name by which he is known here
An assumed one of course-and
we are sorry that we neglected to
ask him for his original appellation,
although tits all the same, no doubt,
for it is probable that we could not
spell it and that, if We could, your
readers could never pronounce it.
He is about twenty-four years of
age, and has been in this country
about two years. According to his
own account, he now wears the first
and only suit Of clothes he ever don
ned, for he was old enough to vote
before he heard tradition even of
as scanty apparel as thatof our first
parents. The old King, his father,
was yet alive when the young prince
was converted to christianity by
traders who had penetrated to his
country, and we are glad 10 hear so
much good of 4 class of men not
generally regarded as being much
exercised about the spread of reiig-
ion. The old King is now dead, and
our lately made acquaintance inner
its the throne with immense herds
of cattle, goodIy pen of fattening
missionaries for winter use-for his
people are cannibals-and, if our
memory serves us, thirty wives. By
our friends account the number of
wives need not scare even poor
man in HIS country, for in that hap
ply land spring bonnets are unknown
and lady's wardrobe is considered |
complete when she owns a neck-tie
for State occasions. Like Peter the
Great of Russia, the young King is
seeking an education with the laud-
able purpose Of returning to his ma
tive land to teach his people and
convert them to civilization. May
God bless him and speed his work.
Y. X.